Riding boot tree



July 9, 194-9.

lli/I/I/ L B. PLOTKIN 2,206,974 RIDING BOOT TREE Filed Feb. 15, 1939 Zez'ykiam 3.1Z0Zki2z I N V EN TOR. W,

Patented July 9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE 2,206,974 RIDING 300T TR EE Leighton B. Plotkin, Bridgeport, Comm, assignor to Bootree Mfg. Co. Inc.', Bridgeport, (John, a corporation of Connecticut This invention relates to a tree designed primarily for use in connection with riding boots for the purpose of holding them in proper shape While not in use.

An object of the invention is to provide a boot tree which can be used in connection with different types of shoe trees and which is capable of convenient adjustment to adapt it to boots of different lengths. A still further object is to provide a boot tree which can be quickly engaged with or disengaged from the boot straps simply by turning the strapengaging portionsin one direction or the opposite direction respectively,

Another object is to provide aboot tree the parts of which can be adjusted to adapt it to boots having straps of slightly difierent lengths.

Another object is to provide a boot tree which can be easily taken apart, it being possible thus to store it in a small space so that it can be conveniently placed in a bag or other article of luggage.

Another object is to provide a boot tree utilizing a, cross-head having upwardly extending strap-engaging portions which tend to thrust upwardly' against the straps rather than to pull upwardly thereupon, this arrangement allowing the cross-head andthe' strap-engaging portions to be contained entirely within the boot while the tree is in use.

Another object is to provide a boot tree having a means for effecting a quick adjustment of the strap-engaging portions to expedite the application of the tree to the boots.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing Figure 1 is a vertical section through a riding boot containing a shoe tree in section, the boot tree constituting the present invention being shown in position therein partly in section and partly in elevation.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the crosshead forming a part of the boot tree.

Figure 3 is a transverse section through the boot tree and showing the cross-head in plan.

its upper portion tapered as indicated at 2.

Figure 4 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in section of a modified form of crosshead.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan View of the crosshead shown in Figure 4, the threaded stem being shown in section.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference A designates a riding boot the foot portion B of which is adapted to receive a shoe tree C,

which can be of any desired construction. In the form shown in section in Figure 1 this tree has an intermediate neck portion such as is common to many forms of shoe trees.

The boot tree constituting the present invention is adapted to be used with various types of shoe trees and, in the present instance, includes a base I preferably circular in cross section with In this illustrated structure the base is provided in its bottom with crossed diametrical slots 3 so proportioned as to receive a portion of the shoe tree C and thus be held against rotation relative to the shoe tree.

A socket 4 is extended downwardly into the upper end of the base I and the lower end of ,a rod 5 is swiveled in this socket. This swivel connectioncan be formed by providing the rod with an annular groove 6 in which is seated a re-.

Rod 5 is alined with a threaded rod 8 con-,

stituting a screw and this threaded rod can be held assembled with rod 5 by a sleeve 9 so that the two rods and the sleeve thus cooperate to form the stem of the boot tree. An annular groove Ill can be formed in the sleeve at the center thereof so as to produce an inwardly ex tending rib for frictional contact with the ends of the rods 5 and 8. v

p The upper end of rod 8 is seated in a. socket ll formed in one end of a handle I2 and the rod can be secured in the socket by a removable diametrical pin l3.

A cross-head I4 is mounted on the threaded rod 8. If the rod is formed of wood or plastic with a coarse thread on it, the cross-head M can also be made thereof. Obviously, however, if a metal rod is used, the cross-head could be made of metal or it could be be made of wood with a nut joined thereto for engaging the thread on the rod. These modifications do not appear to reso as to hold them in proper shape.

quire any illustration or detailed description.

Flattened rods l5 are adjustably mounted in inclined slots l6 formed in the respective end portions of the cross-head and these rods have their upper portions bent to form angular hooks I? opening in opposite directions respectively. By means of set screws I8 extending into the ends of the cross-head and engaging the flat portions of the rods I5, these rods can be held in any position to which they might be adjusted by sliding upwardly or downwardly.

When the boot tree is not in use the rod 8 can be removed from engagement with sleeve 9 and the two rods, with the cross-head on one and the foot on the other, can be laid side by side in a box or other container or can be stored in a small space within a satchel or other article of luggage. To assemble the parts it is merely necessary to reinsert rod 8 into engagement with sleeve 9.

The tree is to be inserted into the boot after a shoe tree has been placed in the foot portion of the boot. The base i of the boot tree is then placed on the shoe tree so as to engage it and be held against rotation thereby. Thereafter the cross-head I4 which has been adjusted upwardly is rotated in one direction, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 3, so as to swing the free ends of the two hooks i! into engagement with the respective boot straps D. By then turning handle 12, the stem formed by the rods 8 and 5 will rotate relative to the restrained base I and the cross-head thus will be fed upwardly so that the hooks projecting from the cross-head will thrust upwardly against the straps D and pull through these straps upon the respective sides of the boot Should one of the straps D be shorter than the other, the user of the tree, being aware of that fact, can adjust one of the rods l5 longitudinally so as to insure equal pull upon the two straps when the crosshead is adjusted.

If desired, and as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the snap-engaging hooks Hi can be formed with eyes 20 adapted to extend under the respective end portions of the cross-head 2| and to be held thereto by screws 22 or the like. A construction of this kind can be employed where adjustability of the hooks is not deemed essential.

It is also possible to provide the cross-head with a means for effecting a quick upward adjustment thereof relative to the rod. Where this adjustment is desired, the opening 23 in the cross-head is not screw-threaded. Thus the cross-head is free to slide along the threaded rod 24. Instead of threading the cross-head, spring-fingers can be oppositely disposed on the bottom of the crosshead and secured thereto as shown at 25. These fingers are extended toward each other and have recessed ends 26 adapted to engage opposed portions of the thread on the rod. Thus when the cross-head is pulled upwardly the spring-fingers will slide over the thread but when the cross-head is subjected to a downward pressure relative to the rod, these fingers will engage the thread. Thereafter, by turning the rod, the thread can feed the fingers and. the cross-head upwardly to place the engaged boot straps under tension.

Although the stem of the boot tree has been shown and described as formed of two rods detachably connected, it is to be understood that, it could be made of a single rod.

Obviously other modifications of this device can be devised within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a boot tree a base, a sectional stem connected thereto, means for rotating the stem, a cross-head adjustably mounted on the stem and shiftable by the rotation thereof, and oppositely extending strap-engaging hooks diverging from the cross-head, said hooks opening in opposite directions respectively, each of said hooks including a flattened stem mounted to slide within the cross-head, and a set screw engaging the stem to hold it against sliding movement.

2. A boot tree including a base for detachable engagement with a shoe tree, a threaded stem having a swiveled connection with the foot, a handle on the stem for rotating it, a cross-head adjustably mounted on the threaded stem, hooks carried by the end portions of the cross-head and diverging from said cross-head, said hooks opening in opposite directions respectively and being rotatable with the cross-head about the stern for movement into or out of the respective boot straps of a boot in which the tree is seated, each of said hooks having an end portion mounted for longitudinal movement within the cross-head, and means engaging said. end portions for holding them against movement relative to the crosshead.

3. A boot tree including a base for detachable engagement with a shoe tree, a threaded stem having a swiveled connection with the base, a handle on the stem for rotating it, a cross-head adjustably mounted on the threaded stem, hooks carried by the end portions of the cross-head and diverging from said cross-head, said hooks opening in opposite directions respectively and being rotatable with the cross-head about the stem for movement into or out of the respective boot straps of a boot in which the tree is seated, each of said hooks being mounted for adjustment rela- 1 tive to the cross-head to position the strap-engaging portions at any selected distance apart for use with boots of difierent widths.

4. In a boot tree, a base member; a stem rotatably mounted on the base member and having a means for rotating the same, said stem being provided with an externally threaded portion; a cross-head having means thereon for engaging the threaded portion of the stem for movement thereby upon rotation of the stem by the rotating means; and a pair of strap-engaging hooks mounted on the cross-head to project from the cross-head and engage loop straps positioned within the boot, said hooks opening in opposite directions and facing the straps when the stem is rotated to elevate the cross-head whereby the hooks will be normally urged into interlocked relationwith the straps when the stem is turned to stretch the boot.

LEIGI-ITON B. PLOTKIN. 

